SA Passport Rises to Top 50 on Global Index

South Africa’s passport has advanced five spots to rank 48th on the 2025 Henley Passport Index, marking its first return to the top 50 since 2014.

The Henley Passport Index, a leading global mobility tracker, evaluates the strength of 199 passports across 227 destinations using data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and additional research. South Africa’s rise in the rankings reflects improved travel opportunities for its citizens, despite losing visa-free access to Ireland.

This loss reduced the number of destinations available to South African passport holders without a visa. The decline mirrors global trends, with European nations like France, Germany, and Italy also losing visa-free privileges to specific countries. Nevertheless, these countries remain among the world’s strongest passports, granting visa-free access to up to 192 destinations.

South Africa’s mobility has fluctuated over the years, peaking at 35th place in 2009 and dropping to a low of 58th in 2021. While the recent climb to 48th place marks progress, challenges remain. Visa-free access for South Africans is now limited to three European nations—Georgia, Kosovo, and Russia—after Ireland’s removal.

Globally, passport strength disparities continue to widen. While top-ranking passports like Singapore and Japan allow access to 195 and 193 destinations, Afghanistan remains at the bottom, with visa-free travel to only 26 countries.

South Africans can currently travel to 106 destinations without visas, a significant advantage across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean. However, key emigration destinations such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia still require visas.

Passport Ranking

Source: The Henley Passport Index